From the Chicago Tribune, Paul Sullivan:

The Cubs said they're taking a stance against ticket scalpers, declining to renew nearly 1,000 season tickets from about 40 customers

Working with outside sources, the Cubs said they identified fans who bought season tickets in bulk for the sole purpose of reselling them and sent them letters Wednesday telling them their accounts have been revoked.

"This is about getting as many season tickets in the hands of fans that are interested in and intend to enjoy Cubs baseball at Wrigley Field," vice president Julian Green said.

The total represents about 4 percent of the season ticket base and opens the waiting list, which currently stands at about 115,000.

According to one source who sells tickets on the secondary market, the sellers usually make money only during playoff years.

Well, duh. I've only been saying that for I dunno, nine years? The real upshot is how many the Cubs "took out" versus how many were actually already leaving. That's the real story, hopefully an enterprising reporter can dig a little deeper there.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

If scalpers don't buy the tickets, who will?

oh, and that season ticket holder "waiting" list? Pure fabrication.

Correct, Big Chicagoan. Nobody for the next season, at least.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Instead of one account with 40 tickets, the scalpers will just get 10 accounts for 4 season tickets. It shouldn't be hard to get an in-state address either.

Exactly. These people probably took a bath last season, and are destined to do the same again this year. Why take away this basically free revenue? If they were coming off a successful run, then this would absolutely make sense, but the Cubs are just shooting themselves in the foot here.

Also, are the Cubs going to go after their own ticket scalping business?

_________________

Those damn scaplers

_________________
Second City Saint

After 103 years,try cracking down on lousy ballplayers.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Their goes your stranglehold on the "tickets sold" championship!

_________________

Glad they are doing this. Scalpers are running rampant by buying and selling their own tickets. This happens everywhere.

_________________
-- source

I think COF is onto the real story. That these scalpers were probably leaving anyway because the Cubs are so shitty so they are trying to get out in front of the story and being like oh we are cracking down to help our fans when in reality scalpers are bailing because there is no money to be made selling tickets to 100 loss teams.

_________________

115,000 people waiting for the opportunity to drop 4,500 bucks a season? That's 517.5 million a year in wasted revenue. Shit, Drain Lake Michigan and put in bleachers.

_________________
I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

uh...your math be funky. Maybe you're richer than I am.

Phil picked up on the main point. I hear scalpers are leaving in droves, and the Cubs are just putting one more joust in in the PR war. While they'll still outsell the Sox Frank, it will be a very bare town by June next season.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Not if the Cubs sign Jeff Keppinger.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Hey, next year will be fun. Those that go will be the ones that can say they were in from the beginning on this rebuild.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I hate to break this to you but this rebuild started in 1909. james is the only one on the board who can say he was there since the beggining.

_________________

this will be 2003 all over again in 2014. Hopefully they have better luck in the playoffs, cause the playoffs are all a crapshoot.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

YEAH FUCK THESE EVIL SCALPERS TAKING TICKETS FROM EVERYONE!!!!!!

i never support scalpers. i only buy my tickets from Wrigley Field Premium Seating Services =D

_________________

scalpers only prosper when supply outweighs demand. More power to 'em. The only problem I have with scalpers is that they won't sell tickets generally at a loss. That stupids up the market.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Wanna bet?

_________________

Cubs Leave ReSeller Stub Hub:

Article today in the Tribune. Hilarious line at the end: "The Yankees and Angels have openly criticized the use of StubHub in the past for artificially deflating the value of their tickets on the secondary market. Last season, Cubs tickets for the final three games were listed for less than $1 apiece plus fees."

HAHA! Stubhub giveth, stubhub taketh away. The Market will bear what the Market will bear.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Artificially? Give me a fucking break -- I couldn't give tickets away!

_________________

Next Headline: Kane County Cougars crack down on scalpers.

I know one thing,if I attend one Cub game in 2013,somebody will have to give me a friggin' ticket. This season will be worse than last. 115 losses might not be out of the question.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."